Pipaluk Lake is an artist that creates sculptures at the crossover point between art, craft and science.

Pipalu work takes its outset in experiments with window glass or industrial household glass, which is placed in a kiln along with metal sheets and wire. During the heating of the kiln to a temperature of around 800 degrees, gravity is a contributory factor in the formative process through which flat sheets become forms. The high temperature also causes the vital mingling with the glass of oxides from copper, brass and iron, all of which lend character to the glass and colour it.

To produce specific hues she can add different metal pigments, acids, salts or organic compounds to the mix. The marks or imprints left in the glass by the metals create a random pattern which also tells something of how it was made.

And this is how this magnificent glass artworks come to life. Hard to understand for someone that doesn’t know about science, but nice to realize how wonderful nature can be.